Ditch-digger.



M. L. POULTEB, DITCH DIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4} 19H PatentedNov. 12,1918. v

mmmm' 3 SHEETS-SHEET!- Fwaiifi i m e M. L. POULTER.

DITCH BIGGER.

ICATlON FILED are. 4. I9! 1 APPL ' 3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

M. L. POULTER.

one BIGGER. APPLICATION FILED DECJ 1917.

1,284,447. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

MICAJ' AH L. POULTER, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

BITCH-BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filedllecember 4, 1917. Serial No. 205,376.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICAJAH L. PooL'rnR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Ditch-Digger, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to ditch digger or excavator, and aims toprovide a novel and improved device of that character.

It is the object of the invention to provide the ditch digger embodyinga dirtelevator of novel construction, the lower portion of which worksin the ground to cut the dirt loose and carry it upwardly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of thenature indicated embodying novel means for cutting the dirt loose, andfor catching and elevating the loosened dirt.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a view ofthe improved digger, partly in elevation and partlyin section, this View being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is the side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view of a simplified form of digger, forcutting a ditch having vertical sides, and instead of slanting sides asprovided with the digger shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The digger, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in elusive, is for cutting ditcheswith slanting or inclined sides, and embodies threeendless sections orelevators, including the intermediate elevator 1, and the side elevators2 at the opposite sides of the intermediate elevator 1. The elevators 1and 2 embody the transverse sheet metal slats 3 and 4, respectively,disposed edge to edge, and links 5 are riveted or otherwise secured tothe inner sides of the slats and are connected by links 6, therebyproviding endless sprocket chains, two for each set of slats. Thesepairs of sprocket chains carry the slats, and all of the sprocket chainsare trained around sprocket Wheels 7 secured upon an upper transverseshaft 8 carried by the digger frame 9, which is disposed in an inclinedposition, as seen in Fig. 2. The frame 9 is carried by a suitablevehicle which forms no part of the present invention, so that it has notbeen shown, and the shaft 8 is driven in any suitable manner foractuating the digger, whereby the forward inclined run thereof is movedupwardly and rearwardly. Although the three elevators are drivensimultaneously from the shaft 8, they are independent of one another.The lower'portions of the sprocket chains of the side elevators aretrained around sprocket wheels 10 secured upon a lower transverse shaft11 journaled within the lower portion of the frame 9, while the lowerportion of the sprocket chains of the intermediate elevator 1 aretrained around a pair of sprocket wheels 12 carried by a sleeve 13rotatable upon a stationary shaft 14 carried by the frame 9 and offsetdownwardly from the shaft 11. Thus, the lower portion of theintermediate elevator projects farther downward than the lower portionsof the elevators 2, as seen in Fig. 1. The slats 3 will therefore bemoved farther downward at the lower portion of the digger than the slats4 whereas the slats 3 and 4, when they pass over the sprocket wheels 7are flush, as well as being flush in the forward runs of the elevators.The rear edges of the slats 3 and 4 are provided with outwardly offsetrearwardly projecting lips 15 overlapping the outer sides of thecompanion slats, as seen in Fig. 3, whereby to close the slots betweenthe slats, to prevent the elevators from buckling, and to prevent theslats being forced rearwardly as they move upwardly from the sprocketwheels 10 and 12.

The slats 3 are provided with outturned end portions 16 extending atsubstantially right angles whereby the slats are of U-shape, and providean endless trough or channel. Some of the slats 3 are provided withcutters for cutting the dirt loose, and as shown, every fourth slat 3 isequipped with the cutters, the forward edges of the end portions orwings 16 of said slats being sharpened as at 17, and said end portions16 are provided with relatively long and short cutters 18 and 19,respectively, having their forward edges sharpened and curved outwardly.The cutters 18 and 19 overhang the slats 3 and have openings 20 therebetween allowing the dirt to drop out. The cutters 18 and 19 are instaggered arrangement, as seen in Fig. 1. The cutters 18 and 19 of eachpair are disposed transversely opposite to one another, and the cutters18 and 19 alternate at each side of the elevator 1, so that the longcutters 18 are disposed in rear of the openings 20 of the cuttersimmediately in advance thereof.

Some of the slats 3 are provided with series of outstanding pins 21disposed transversely of the elevator 1, and said pins are preferablycarried by the slats 3 immedi ately in advance of the cutter slats orthose slats having the cutters 1819. The pins 21 serve to catch the dirtand carry the same upwardly, without the dirt clinging to said pins, asmight prevent the discharge of the dirt at the upper portion of theelevator.

The elevator 1 is provided in addition to the cutters 1819, whichproject toward one another from the sides of the elevator, with cutters23 having shanks riveted or otherwise secured to the end portions 16 ofthose slats 3 intermediate the slats having the cutters 18-19. Thecutters 23 project toward opposite sides from the elevator 1, andproject inwardly, i. 6., toward the plane be tween the runs of theelevator. The cutters 1819 will be horizontal at the lower portion ofthe elevator, while the cutters 23 will extend upwardly at an anglebeyond the sides of the elevator 1.

The slats 4c of the elevators 2 are also provided with outturned endportions or wings 2%, and those end portions 24: at the remote sides ofthe elevator are provided at intervals with inclined cutters 25, andother inclined cutters 27 have shanks 26 riveted or otherwise secured tosaid portions 24. The cutters 25 and 27 of each pair are in alinementand are inclined or arranged obliquely, the cutters 25 overhanging theslats t while the cutters 27 project from the sides of the elevators 2.The forward edges of the cutters 25 and 27 are sharpened and curvedoutwardly as are also the forward edges of the cutters 23, whereby toefiectively engage and cut the dirt, roots, and the like. The cutters 23overhang the slats and due to the downward ofisetting of the slats 3 atthe lower end of the elevator 1, as seen in Fig. 1, the cutters 23 willbe brought into alinement with the cutters 2527, to be disposed inupwardly diverging inclined planes, to provide the slanting sides of theditch, while the cutters 1819 provide the flat bottom.

The slats 4 immediately in advance of the slats having the cutters 2527are provided with outstanding sets of dirt catching and holding pins 28arranged transversely of the elevators 2.

Tn'operation, the cutters will be carried forwardly at the lower portionof the digger, where they pass under the lower sprocket wheels, and willmove upwardly in front of said sprocket wheels with the forward runs ofthe diggers. The cutters 232527 will cut the inclined or slanting sidesof the ditch, while the cutters 1819 in working between the lines ofmovement of the cutters 23 will cut the flat bottom of the ditch. Thedirt which is loosened by the cutters will fall into the troughs formedby the slats, and. will be caught and-taken up by the pins 21 and 28.The outwardly curved for ward edges of the cutters in loosening the dirtwill deflect the dirt into the troughshaped elevators, whereby the dirtwill be carried upwardly with the forward runs of the elevators, to bedischarged at the upper portions thereof where they pass over thesprocket wheels 7, any suitable means (not shown) being employed forcatching the discharged material and directing it to one side or otherpoint of discharge. It will be noted that although the lower portion ofthe elevator 1 projects downwardly beyond the elevators 2, the forwardruns of the elevators work in the same inclined plane, and the upperportions of the elevators are flush for the convenient discharge of dirtfrom the upper portion of the digger, the dirt readily falling from thepins 2128 and cutters. It is also to be noted that the elevator 1 inbeing longer than the elevators 2, will have a greater number of slatsand the intermediate and side elevators will, therefore, continuallychange their relations, the side elevators completing their circuit ofmovement before the intermediate elevator, although all of the elevatorshave the same speed of movement.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a simplified form is illustrated, embodying anelevator 1 somewhat similar to the elevator 1 above described, withoutusing the side elevators. The cutting edges 17 of the respective endportions or wings 16 are curved outwardly to form the sides of theditch, which, with this form of elevator, will be vertical. Theremainder of elevator 1 is practically the same as the elevator 1, butthe cutters 23 are eliminated since there is no need for them in cuttingthe vertical sides of the ditch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Adigger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, cutters carried bythe sides thereof for loosening the dirt and directing it into theelevator, and members carried by the elevator within the same forcarrying the loosened dirt.

2. A digger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, and overhangingcutters carried by the sides thereof.

3. A digger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, cutters carriedby the sides thereof, and overhanging the elevator, and pins carried bythe elevator between the sides thereof.

4. A digger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, and staggeredoverhanging cutters carried by the sides thereof.

5. A digger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, and relativelylong and short overhanging cutters carried by the sides of the elevatorand projecting toward one another, the cutters being in staggeredarrangement and having openings therebetween.

6. A digger embodying an endless troughshaped elevator, staggeredoverhanging cutters carried by the sides thereof, and sets of pinscarried by the elevator between its sides and immediately in advance ofsaid cutters.

7. A digger embodying an endless elevator comprising transverse slatshaving outturned end portions, and cutters carried by said end portionsfor loosening the dirt.

8. A digger embodying an endless elevator comprising transverse slatshaving outturned end portions, overhanging cutters carried by the endportions of some of the slats, and dirt catching and carrying meanscarried by other slats.

9. A digger embodying an endless elevator comprising transverse slatshaving outturned end portions, and staggered overhanging cutters carriedby the end portions of some of the slats.

10. A digger embodying an endless elevator comprising transverse slatshaving outturned end portions, staggered overhanging cutters carried bythe end portions of some of the slats, and outstanding pins carried byother slats in advance of said cutters.

11. A digger embodying intermediate and side elevators having means forcutting the bottom and inclined sides of a ditch, respectively.

12. A digger embodying intermediate and side elevators, the intermediateelevators projecting downwardly farther than the side elevators, meanscarried by the intermediate elevator for cutting the dirt and formingthe bottom of a ditch, and means carried by the side elevators forcutting the dirt and forming inclined sides for the ditch.

- 13. A digger embodying endless troughshaped intermediate and sideelevators, and overhanging cutters carried thereby for forming thebottom and inclined sides of a ditch, respectively.

14. A digger embodying endless troughshaped intermediate and sideelevators, the intermediate elevator projecting down- Wardly beyond theside elevators, overhanging cutters carried by the sides of theintermediate elevator for forming the bottom of a ditch, and cutterscarried by the elevators inclined at the lower portion thereof forforming inclined sides for the ditch.

15. A digger embodying endless troughshaped intermediate and sideelevators, the intermediate elevator projecting downwardly beyond theside elevators, overhanginging cutters carried by the sides of theintermediate elevator for forming the bottom of the ditch, other cutterscarried by the sides of the intermediate elevator and overhanging theside elevators, the last men tioned cutters being inclined at the lowerportion of the intermediate elevator, and cutters carried by the remotesides of the side elevators and inclined at the lower portion of saidelevators to cooperate with .the second mentioned cutters for formingthe inclined sides of the ditch.

16. A digger embodying intermediate and side endless elevators, eachcomprising transverse slats having outturned end portions, cutterscarried by the end portion of the in termediate elevator for forming thebottom of a ditch, and other cutters carried by the end portions of theslats of the elevators and inclined at the lower portions of theelevators for forming the inclined sides of the ditch.

17. A digger embodying endless intermediate and side elevators, eachcomprising transverse slats having outturned end portions formingtroughs, the intermediate elevator projecting downwardly beyond the sideelevators, overhanging cutters carried by the end portions of the slatsof the intermediate elevator for forming the bottom of a ditch, andcutters carried by the end portions of the slats of the intermediateelevator and the remote end portions of the slats of the side elevatorsand inclined at the lower portions of the elevators for forming theinclined sides of the ditch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

'MIGAJAH L. POULTER.

Vitnesses:

FRED O. WOODSON, CARL E. STERNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

